Norfolk (ORF) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
The calendar drives reliability on ORF–DTW. April 2025 flights landed on schedule 95% of the time, but December 2025 dropped to 60% — a gap of 35 points. Across the full period the route averages 80% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (87% vs 75%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 80%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 2.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 59m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 529 mi
Best airline from ORF to DTW
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavor Airmost reliable | 86% | 10 min | 0.0% | 263 |
| Delta Air Lines | 81% | 19 min | 1.6% | 546 |
| Spirit Airlines | 79% | 23 min | 1.6% | 62 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 76% | 27 min | 1.1% | 650 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORF to DTW
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (89% on-time); avoid 12 p.m. departures (72%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 85% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 78% | 23 min |
| Friday | 78% | 27 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 79% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft18%
- Airline operations57%
- National airspace system12%
- Weather13%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORF to DTW delayed?
- 20% of ORF–DTW flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORF to DTW?
- Endeavor Air has the best on-time record on this route at 86%, based on 263 flights. 4 airlines flew ORF–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORF to DTW?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 12 p.m. have the worst (72%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORF to DTW?
- The scheduled ORF–DTW flight time averages 1h 59m over 529 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 20% of the time.
- How often are ORF to DTW flights cancelled?
- 1.1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from ORF to DTW?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2025 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,532 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.